March 8, 2011
To: Gustavus students, faculty, and staff
From: Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jeff Stocco
This is your daily e-mail update regarding the two attempted sexual assaults reported on our campus last weekend. Local law enforcement is aggressively following up on all leads. Between our regular SafeRides program serving 14 stops throughout campus and our 24/7 escort program, rides were provided to more than 100 people between 6 p.m. last night and 6 a.m. this morning. We continue to encourage anyone needing a ride to call Campus Safety at x8888 (507-933-8888).
I want to thank all of those who attended yesterday’s forum held in Christ Chapel. For the benefit of those unable to attend, I would like to report that the event provided an opportunity for the community to hear from President Ohle, St. Peter Police Detective and lead investigator Matt Grochow, Campus Safety Director Ray Thrower, Vice President for Marketing and Communication Gwen Freed, and me. Comments, questions, and discussion touched upon several topics including the SafeRides program and the 24/7 escort rides, lighting on campus, as well as rumors and how they are being handled from a communications standpoint. Many people eloquently expressed solidarity and support for survivors of the attempted sexual assaults. Many people wanted to know how they could help. In addition, last night the Student Senate passed a resolution that, among other things, expressed compassion to the survivors, commended members of the Gustavus community at large, and called upon the student body to heed advice regarding safety.
As long as this matter remains unresolved, there will be a need and a desire for in-person communication. Thus, we will hold daily forums for at least the rest of this week. Today’s forum will be held at 5 p.m. in Alumni Hall. These half hour meetings will be for campus community members only, and they will feature updates on St. Peter Police and Campus Safety efforts, as well as opportunities for community members to ask questions and to report on various efforts on campus around this issue. We encourage campus community members to attend these forums as their schedules permit.
We hope to see you tonight. In the meantime, please continue to be aware of your surroundings and call Campus Safety if you see anything suspicious. Leads specifically on this case can be phoned in to the St. Peter Police Department at 507-931-1550.
If you have not done so already, please input or update your emergency contact information in the Gustavus Gribly online. As was discussed at the forum yesterday, we will continue to do our best to reach you quickly with any needed safety information. If you need assistance with this, you may call Lorie Siebels in the Office of Marketing and Communication at x7520 (507-933-7520) or Lisa Octigan in Campus Safety at x8888 (507-933-8888).